So far, my record of running into the people I least wanted to see was a solid two for two. At least I hadn’t met Kasia yet. If I had, I doubted I’d be alive long enough to complain about it.
General Zell scooped up Valkyrie before practically yanking me off the floor and dragging me along behind him.
“Stay,” he ordered the guards who started to follow. “She is no danger to me.”
“No, the real danger is out there, in case you missed Kasia’s last attack!” I said, trying to get my feet beneath me. “Is everyone okay? Did any of her Acolytes get inside?”
The questions kept pouring from my mouth, even as General Zell roughly shook me. I finally got my footing, but that didn’t stop General Zell’s persistent dragging. I hoped we’d run into some familiar faces, but I was sorely disappointed. The hallways of the Academy were as deserted as they’d been the first time the Fae had arrived.
“Can you tell me if my friends arrived safely?” I said. “They took a Farcast portal here to help. We have a way to defeat Kasia.”
In answer, General Zell wrenched me to the left, and we began to descend one of the staircases down into the ‘other’ Academy. My skin tingled as frigid air rose to meet us.
“Headmaster Lucien should know I’m here,” I said. My voice came out a little desperate, but I kind of was. I’d known I would have to face General Zell upon returning, but I hadn’t expected him to completely disregard any and all rules of the Academy. As powerful as the Fae might be, even they followed the law.
It seemed General Zell didn’t care about that.
His grip on my arm was too strong to fight against. I eyed Valkyrie in his other hand, but I knew I couldn’t free it, either. I could try to spell him. I might have even been able to conjure a really good one. But I had no idea how resistant the Fae usually were to magic. If I tried and failed I would have only pissed him off that much more.
“General Zell, I need you to tell me what we’re doing right—”
General Zell suddenly let go of my arm and I stumbled forward.
Straight into a cell.
So, yeah, the Academy had a dungeon. I remembered hearing that they were built when it was pretty lawless in the paranormal community. Dangerous Supes had been kept here before trial. Why they were kept below a place where innocent students went to learn was beyond me, but even after that process went away the dungeons remained. I think it somehow made the Vamps, ghouls, and other students who held class down here feel better.
I started to pull myself up as the cell door slammed shut. Another bout of damp, cold air washed over me and I shivered.
Zell ensured the door wouldn’t give before standing before the bars, arms crossed. “You will wait here until I can figure out a proper punishment to fit the crime you have committed.”
“General Zell—”
“Silence!”
I could feel the magic lacing his words, compelling my lips to stay closed. But even as soon as I felt that, the magic began to wane, as though he were distracted by something else. I waited for him to storm off, but he continued standing at the bars of the cage, his face half shadowed in the light of the nearest torch. His expression was still a furious mask, but beneath it I could see something else beginning to peek through. I wondered then whether the reason he’d asked the guards not to come was more for his benefit than for mine. He looked on the verge of breaking down in tears.
I slowly stood and stepped up to the bars, wrapping my fingers around the cool metal. “I’m sorry about Prince Zephyr.”
“Don’t you dare speak his name!” General Zell hissed. I gritted my teeth as his sudden pulse of angry magic washed over me. “You, the one who took his life!”
“I didn’t kill him. You know that,” I said.
“I know what I saw. My prince, my beloved prince, lying dead at my feet. And you…” He glared at me. “You escaping into the portal. Why would anyone who was innocent run? How could you, when the prince trusted you for reasons I will never understand?”
“I was forced into the portal,” I said. “Kasia, she…” I trailed off. I was telling him things he already knew. He had to already know. “You’re not an idiot, General Zell.”
He swelled. “How dare you speak to me—”
“It wasn’t an insult, believe it or not. I know what you saw. I know you don’t actually believe I would hurt him. Even if I could, I would never lay a finger on him. Kasia, she’s the one who did it. You can deny it all you want, but you know it’s true.”
I flexed my fingers to keep them from going stiff in the chill. “But if you want to blame me, I get it. I didn’t kill him, but I wasn’t able to stop Kasia before she did. I knew her better than anyone. I should have warned him more.” I pounded my fist against the bars. “Gotten him to listen somehow.”
General Zell watched me, still seething.
“He didn’t want to be king. Did you know that?” I said.
“Prince Zephyr was the most capable, the most honorable—”
“Yeah, but those things don’t matter if he didn’t want it.”
“It didn’t matter what he wanted!” General Zell boomed. “He was going to be king. And not just any king, the greatest king the Fae has ever had. From the time I heard his first cry I knew there was something special about him. And as I watched him grow I knew he possessed abilities every ruler needed. He was…” General Zell sucked in a sharp breath. “I will admit he had much to learn yet, but he was the best. He was going to be the best.”
I listened to the snaps from the torches as General Zell fell silent. Then he glared at me again. “Until all that was robbed from him.”
My legs were starting to hurt again. I crouched, resting my forehead against the bars.
“You know about Queen Segur and my mom, I’m guessing?”
“I know your mother murdered the Queen of the Unseelie Fae—”
“I can understand why you believe I had some kind of vendetta against the prince.”
General’s Zell’s expression flickered with surprise. “I thought no such thing,” he said in a tone that told me he’d totally thought such a thing.
“I just learned about it recently. Zephyr told me, actually.”
“I told you not to speak—”
“Even if that were the case,” I went on, louder, “even if our families, our people, did horrible things to each other in the past, I don’t care about any of that. That’s not what’s important. I’m sorry about Zephyr, really I am. Kasia killed him and hurt you more than anyone else has, I bet. But the thing is, she hurt me too. We’re together in that, whether you think so or not.”
“You pretend we’re equals,” General Zell hissed. “But we are nothing alike. From the minute Zephyr said he wished to return to this realm, to make peace with the Supes of this realm, I tried to talk him out of it. No good would come of it, I said. They are only a group of violent individuals that would eat him alive if he associated with him. I told him that. I begged him to listen. And yet…and yet…”
General Zell turned away from me. I heard it then, for just a brief moment, a sob. I didn’t even think Fae were capable of crying. Seemed I was wrong again.
“I’m sorry,” I said, my words sounding empty. “I don’t know how many times I can say it, but I’m sorry. Kasia’s hurt all of us. That’s why I came back, because I have a way to help. But I need your help, General Zell. I want us to work together. And I think—I know—Zephyr would have wanted it, too.”
“Don’t.” General Zell’s voice was barely more than a whisper, “say his name.”
He took a final deep breath before straightening back to his usual towering height. “You will remain here until I decide what to do with you.”
And without another word he stormed off and left me alone.
As lonely as it was, I was grateful that the rest of the dim, torch-lined block was completely empty. At least Zell wasn’t imprisoning any more of the students. I’d expected to find Asher and the others down here, but it seemed either Asher had charmed his way out of imprisonment (highly likely) or Lucien had interceded and he’d charmed his way out of their imprisonment (also highly likely).
Either that or they’d never arrived at all.
That last thought didn’t help raise my spirits much. Nor did the thought that neither Lucien nor my parents had any idea I was back, and General Zell, as furious as he was at me, might keep me down here forever. He probably didn’t realize humans needed more food than the Fae. And man I was hungry.
I leaned my back against the bars. Everything I’d said to Zell was true. I’d need the Fae’s help if I had any chance at buying enough time to use my new magic on Kasia. But even more than that, I wanted him to know how sorry I was. I wouldn’t take the blame for something I didn’t do, but that didn’t lesson the agony Zell must have been feeling. He was a smart guy. He knew what he thought he’d seen. But because Kasia was out there and I was here, he’d found it easier to lay blame on me. In a way, I figured he’d have probably blamed me anyway. Kasia was the known: a violent, merciless Supe. But I was more what he’d expected: the Supe who was supposedly no less violent and conniving, but hid it under the guise of false friendship and goodwill.
Still, if keeping me down here was going to stop what little chance I had at beating Kasia, I’d have to eventually find a way out. The bars were, obviously, spelled so that magic couldn’t work on them. Maybe if I’d had the magic of the Dark Prince I could muster up something powerful enough to break through, but he was yet another who I’d unsuccessfully tried to talk into an alliance today. If we survived this, I could pretty much cross diplomacy off my list of potential career choices.
Time passed; maybe an hour, maybe minutes. I checked the entire cell but, wouldn’t you know it, Lucien even kept these maintained. Not a single rusted bolt or loose bar for me to try to force my way through. Not that I had much of a plan for what I’d do once I was out. Just as long as I got out.
I gave a frustrated huff and leaned back against the bars. I heard footsteps step inside and stop in front of my cell.
“Let me guess,” I said, “you’ve finally made up your mind about what to do with me?”
“Not exactly,” Asher said.
I leapt up to find him grinning at me. “Though, if you really want, give me a minute and I’ll come up with something.”
“Asher!” Mia said. In the dim light behind him I could see her blush. She had tears in her eyes as she grasped for me through the bars. I hugged them both as close as I could.
“I thought you guys were hurt or…or…”
“We made it back okay,” Asher said. “Well, we were missing one very important piece. I’m sorry I didn’t hold on tighter. I thought Kasia had managed to get her hands on you…”
“I’m fine, and she didn’t,” I said. “I’ll tell you later.”
I saw Colson poke his head inside the dungeon door. “Tearful reunion later. Let’s not push our luck.”
“Right.” Asher pulled out a thin strip of wire he seemed to have fashioned into a slightly curved pick. “Let’s see if I can do this.”
“How did you find me?” I said as Asher put the pick in the lock and set to work.
“After we arrived we watched the Academy’s entrance for any sign of you,” Mia said.
“Someone banging on the front door was a pretty big sign,” Asher said. “You sure like to make an entrance, don’t you?”
I shrugged. “What can I say? I have an addiction to theatrics. It’s a problem.”
“Come on, you stupid…piece…of…” The wire snapped in Asher’s hand. He swore. Then he took a step back, looked at the door, looked over at the dungeon entrance where Colson stood, then slapped his forehead. “I’m an idiot. Colson!” he hissed. “Could you give us a hand?”
Colson peeked in again then lumbered over. He took one look at the door, then at Asher. “A lockpick? You’re an idiot.”
Asher gestured to the bars. “Yeah, we’ve established that. If you please.”
“Stand back.”
I scurried to the back of the cell as Colson gripped the door, and with an immense pull snapped the lock. The door swung open.
Now I could hug them all for real.
“I’m glad you’re all okay,” I said once Colson finished smothering me in his arms. “I half expected to find you all locked up in here with me.”
“We arrived right after Kasia’s first attack,” Mia said. “The Fae and General Zell were a little more preoccupied with that than with locking us up.”
“Breaking you out won’t do much good if we’re constantly trying to avoid the Fae and Kasia at the same time,” Asher said darkly. “We need to stay away from the Fae as much as possible, and try to buy ourselves some time for whenever Kasia attacks again. At least enough time for Skylar to get close enough to use her magic. Any ideas how to do that?”
“Let’s find Lucien first,” Colson said. “He’ll probably know where to start. Skylar, your parents are still on the outside along with the Paranormal Coalition. If they get the chance, I’m sure they’ll come help us.”
“I can go talk to some of our classmates,” Mia said. “At the very least, we can be ready for her next attack.”
I nodded. As scattershot as it was, it seemed about as good a plan as any.
“You guys get started with all that,” I said. “I need to find Valkyrie, and then I’ll join you.”
Asher frowned. “General Zell took it, right?”
“Yeah…”
“And you think I’m going to let you sneak around looking for it without me, right after we broke you out?”
“I mean, I did think that…”
Mia gave me another quick hug. “We’ll see you soon.”
“Try not to get yourself caught again,” Colson said. “I don’t want to destroy too much school property.”
They left. I started to follow them, but Asher caught my arm. One arm wrapped around my waist, his hand brushing a strand of hair from my eyes.
“I wanted to say I’m sorry,” he said. “About Radell and the spell and…all of it.”
“No, it’s fine, it’s—”
“It’s not fine. It was selfish. It was selfish because…because I want you. I want you safe and happy. But you’re…” His voice caught. “You’re willing to give yourself up for the good of everyone. So I have to be good with giving you up to do that, if that’s what it takes.”
“Asher, if you think I want to die, that I want to leave you…” I cupped his cheek. “Of course I don’t want that. I’m just being realistic. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
I kissed him, hot and fierce and hungry. I felt heat race through me as he enthusiastically kissed me back, setting fire to my every nerve. Through my lips I tried to convey what I couldn’t seem to get into words; how much I didn’t want to do what I had to, how much I wished I could be as safe as he wanted.
At last we parted, but our faces stayed together, our breath blessedly warm in the frigid air. I felt a teasing smirk on Asher’s lips, his skin soft against mine. “A dungeon kiss. How romantic.”
“They say it’s the truest kind,” I said, failing to stifle a small laugh.
He brushed my hair back again. “As much as I want to keep doing that, why don’t we go save the Academy, and all that fun stuff?”
And with that, we followed where Mia and Colson had gone, to go save the Academy, and all that fun stuff.
I had no clue where General Zell might have stashed Valkyrie, but we decided to start searching on the Academy’s main floor. Asher and I peeked in every classroom, looking for wherever a Fae General would throw a prisoner’s weapon. I tried to think of where Zell would have set up his home base. Maybe in the Masters’ wing where he could monitor the Heads. But that seemed too far away from where his guards were usually stationed. He’d want somewhere in between; somewhere he could easily monitor the activities of the rest of the Academy and give commands whenever needed. Maybe they’d commandeered an entire wing on the south side of the Academy and set up quarters there—
I stepped inside one of the empty classrooms and froze.
General Zell sat near the back. Seeing his enormous frame shoved into a small desk would have been funny if he hadn’t looked so incredibly broken. Glittering tears like jewels dripped down his cheeks. One hand cupped his face, as though to try to stem them back.
I didn’t think I made any noise, but he looked up all the same.
“I see,” he said. “I thought you too weak to try at escape. Yet another of my failures.”
“Skylar, have you—”
Asher’s footsteps stopped behind me. He sucked in a sharp breath. “Get behind m—”
I took another step toward General Zell. I wasn’t sure why I trusted that he wouldn’t attack me, or throw me into another cell, or do whatever punishment he supposedly had planned for me. I was certain he’d never had any punishment at all. I was certain, now, that he’d never truly believed me to be at fault for Zephyr’s death.
Valkyrie lay on the table before him. I nodded to it. “I need my sword back. It may not look like much to you, but it makes fighting a whole lot easier for me.”
General Zell rested his chin on his hands, staring toward the front of the class. I carefully reached forward and took Valkyrie, strapping it to the side of my jeans. “What I said down there? I wasn’t lying. I really am going to try to take down Kasia. And if you want to help…well, you’ve made your position pretty clear.”
“Skylar, let’s go.” Asher was glaring at Zell, as though daring him to try something. “I’m sure the others are nearly ready.”
I took a step back. “I’m sorry,” I said to General Zell.
I turned to go.
“I hate you so much,” General Zell said.
I tensed, hand slowly moving toward Valkyrie. Asher’s hand also drifted toward his own weapon, never taking his eyes off the General.
“At least I want to,” General Zell continued. “I still need someone to blame. And I find it much easier to blame those who have a history of foolishness and violence than it is to accept that it was my fault. Or the fault of…of…”
“Zephyr was a great Fae,” I said. “But he wasn’t perfect. I hate to say it, but none of us are perfect.”
“But your kind is even less perfect than the rest! Humans and their folly, humans and their faults! That must be what caused this. That gave me peace, believing that.”
“Even if we are at fault, we’re trying to get better,” Asher said. “We’re trying to stop the ones who are worse than we are. And if you’re not going to help us do that then at least stay out of our way.”
I shot Asher a look, but he just shrugged as if to say, “What? It’s true”.
A chair squeaked as General Zell stood. He straightened up to his imposingly tall height, glaring down at the two of us. “You mean what you say? You mean to try to beat Kasia?”
I held up Valkyrie. “I always have.”
General Zell nodded, looking as though he was coming to a momentous decision. “Then I will help you. We will help you. I believe…I believe it would be what Prince Zephyr would want, to fight along humans. He was always fixated on redoing the wrongs of his mother. I believe he would have liked this.”
His eyes flashed, and suddenly his tears were replaced by a fierceness so intense that I wondered how anyone had ever challenged him—or any Fae—ever before. “Gather what forces you have at your disposal. Capable students, Masters, that flamboyantly annoying headmaster of yours.”
“Watch what you say about my dad,” Asher warned. “Though you’re not entirely wrong…” he muttered.
“We will call on the aid of your Coalition,” General Zell said. “If they can find a way to break through the outer barrier Kasia has surrounded us with then we stand a chance. The rest of us will gather in the—”
The entire classroom shook as an enormous boom rumbled from outside the Academy walls. I braced myself against the desk. My heart beat in double time. There was no mistaking what this was. I knew it even before I heard frantic shouts from the hallway, followed by Fae guards running past.
“That’d be Kasia’s calling card,” I said grimly. “She’s here to destroy us for real.”